The demand for up-to-date technical skills continues to increase. However, technology is continuously changing, so where do you focus? What skills can you learn today that will still be valuable two years, five years, or even twenty years from now? The answer – enterprise computing skills.
Enterprise computing refers to the "behind the scenes" computer systems that run business-critical applications, which includes mainframes. At their core, mainframes are high-performance computers with large amounts of memory and processors that process billions of simple calculations and transactions in real-time every day.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, enterprise computing careers make up the bulk of 4 million+ computer and information technology jobs. Here are the top three reasons you should choose a career in enterprise computing.
1. Longevity: Enterprise computing is here to stay. Roles in enterprise computing hold essential and ongoing value for employers. For example, in a 2019 Forrester study, nearly 90% of professionals working in enterprise computing agreed that the job market for professionals with their skill set is growing, and 75% highlighted that there is a shortage for their skill sets.
IBM Z practitioner skills continue to be widely sought after as the IBM Z platform is crucial to large-scale enterprise computing success and meeting the world's ever-changing digital business demands. IBM Z is the backbone of the world's leading businesses across industries, such as banking, finance, health care, insurance, utilities, government, and many other public and private enterprises. IBM Z is the cornerstone for
- 85 of the top 100 global banks
- 8 out of 10 of the top insurers
- 7 of the top 10 global retailers
- 4 out of 5 of the top airlines
The critical function of enterprise computing for financial and technical services firms creates robust job opportunities for technical professionals. Skills to support IBM Z in delivering core services for hybrid cloud environments and mission-critical transactions include
- 87% of all credit card transactions and nearly $8 trillion payments
- 29 billion ATM transactions each year, worth nearly $5 billion per day
- 68% of the world's production workloads at only 6% of the total IT cost
2. Build a solid technical base: Enterprise computing offers foundational skills. Competencies in core technologies – IBM Z architecture, COBOL, JCL, Java, and CICS – constitute a foundational skill set for enterprise computing roles. Bundled together, these skills provide a broad technical base for high-demand occupations like System Administrators, Application Developers, and Database Administrators. In addition, having a solid technical base in enterprise computing provides skills applicable for careers in a wide variety of technologies, such as
- Hybrid cloud
- Artificial intelligence (AI)
- Data and analytics
- Blockchain
- Internet of Things (IoT)
Having skills that facilitate job flexibility is key per Anna McKee, IBM Db2 for z/OS Systems Programmer and 2019 Master the Mainframe global winner.
"With a diverse portfolio of technologies, IBM Z gives me the freedom to move horizontally in my career. The flexibility of working in IBM Z means that I can further my knowledge in the discipline I'm in now or choose a different path altogether. My future is full of opportunities with IBM Z, all without ever leaving the platform."
3. Continued skills relevance and demand: Enterprise computing skills hold their value. The hottest jobs are growing in this quiet corner of core technology. In 2019, employers posted over 62,000 job openings for enterprise computing roles across Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States. While the study did not include other key markets such as Czech Republic, South Africa, Japan, and more, the study confirms that significant job opportunities in enterprise computing exist across the globe. Source: 2020 study by Burning Glass Technologies
Set your career on a path to success with enterprise computing skills. 2021 Master the Mainframe global winner and IBM Z Student Ambassador Hartanto Widjaya not only built his enterprise computing skills, but he also grew his professional network and increased his sphere of influence.
"As an IBM Z Student Ambassador, I have the opportunity to establish relationships with people in the industry and seek opportunities to learn and progress professionally. Additionally, I gained experience in public speaking and became more confident in expressing myself. All while also learning about the technology that powers the world's economy and how it is relevant in today's multi-cloud era."
To learn more about the global opportunities for careers in enterprise computing, download the just-released study from Burning Glass, Digital Backbone: The Sustained Need for Enterprise Computing Jobs, available on the IBM Z Student Hub. If you are ready to get started learning base enterprise computing skills, head over to the IBM Z Learning System or IBM z/OS Mainframe Practitioner course, both available at no charge from IBM. Now is the time to set a path for your future!
Source for Forrester 2019 study: https://www.ibm.com/downloads/cas/1EPYAP5D